Transfers to a general medical ward at National Hospital of Sri Lanka: a descriptive study

Air contamination in the operating room (OR) is an important contributor for surgical site infections. Air quality should be assessed during microbiological commissioning of new ORs and as required thereafter. Despite many modern methods of sampling air, developing countries mostly depended on conventional methods. This was studied in two ORs of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) with different ventilation system; a conventional ventilation (CV) and a laminar air flow (LAF). Both ORs were sampled simultaneously by two different methods, the settle plate and sampler when empty and during use for a defined time period. Laboratory work was done in the Medical Research Institute. The two methods of sampling showed moderate but highly significant correlation. The OR with CV was significantly more contaminated than LAF when empty as well as during use by both methods. Overall, the difference in contamination was more significant when sampled by the sampler. Differences in contamination in empty and in-use ORs were significant in both ORs, but significance is less in LAF rooms. The consistent and significant correlation between settle plate and sampler showed that the settle plate is an acceptable method. The LAF theatre showed less contamination while empty and during use as expected. Air contamination differences were more significant when sampled with sampler indicating that it is a more sensitive method. Both CV and LAF ORs of the NHSL did not meet the contamination standards for empty theatres but met the standards for in-use indicating that the theatre etiquette was acceptable.

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Chronic subdural hematomas: a case series from the medical ward of a north Tanzanian referral hospital

Egyptian Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.1186/s41984-019-0054-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sakina Mehboob Rashid ◽

Shahrzad Seyedeh Deliran ◽

Marieke Cornelia Johanna Dekker ◽

William Patrick Howlett

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Case Series ◽

Medical Ward ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Definitive Treatment ◽

Delayed Presentation ◽

General Medical Ward ◽

Subdural Hematomas ◽

History Of

Abstract Background Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) initially present as focal neurological deficits with or without signs of increased intracranial pressure, for which admission to the general medical ward may occur if they present with poorly understood neurological deficits and no evident history of trauma. The symptoms may be long standing and mimic stroke upon presentation. Their distribution and specific clinical features in sub-Saharan Africa are largely unknown. Methods We describe a series of subdural hematoma (SDH) inpatients from the medical ward of a tertiary referral center in Northern Tanzania, describing clinical and radiological characteristics and providing clinical outcome where possible. Results Our study population numbered 30, with a male majority (n = 19, 63.3%) and a mean age of 66.8 ± 14.5 years. Mean duration from symptom onset to admission in the medical ward was 20.0 ± 30.8 days. History of head injury was reported in only 43.3% of patients. Improvement in the neurological examination was noted in 68.1% of the 22 patients who underwent surgery. The mortality rate was 20.0%. Conclusion A majority of the patients were elderly males and presented late to the hospital. Delayed presentation and diagnosis due to, amongst other reasons, postponed imaging resulted in a prolonged time to definitive treatment and a high mortality rate compared to other regions of the world.

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Timing of Aspirin and Secondary Preventative Therapies in Acute Stroke: Support for Use of Stroke Units

Scottish Medical Journal ◽

10.1177/003693300505000209 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 69-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J Reid ◽

M-J MacLeod ◽

D Williams

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Ct Scanning ◽

Medical Ward ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Stroke Units ◽

General Medical Ward ◽

Brain Scans ◽

Angiotensin Ii Antagonist ◽

Acute Stroke Unit ◽

Ct Brain

Background: We aimed to study the timing of aspirin prescription in ischaemic stroke comparing patients admitted to an acute stroke unit (ASU) directly or via a general medical ward. We also analysed prescription of secondary preventive therapies in stroke patients in an ASU. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made of medical notes and prescription records of 69 patients admitted to an ASU over a three month period to establish timing of aspirin prescription with respect to onset of stroke symptoms, CT brain scan and route of admission to the ASU. Results: CT brain scans were obtained at a median of 2.1 days post stroke (IQ range 1.3–4.3). Patients directly admitted to the ASU received aspirin earlier post admission compared to those admitted via a medical ward (0.7 vs 2.2 days, p<0.01) and were also more likely to receive aspirin prior to CT scan being performed (57% vs 19%, p=0.02). 86% of stroke patients were discharged on an antiplatelet therapy, 79% on a statin, 37% on a thiazide diuretic and 32% on an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II antagonist. Conclusion: Aspirin was given more promptly in acute stroke and more commonly prior to CT scanning in an ASU compared to a medical ward. Statin therapy is used extensively in stroke but there is a much lower rate of initiation of other secondary preventive therapies (e.g. anti-hypertensive therapy) in hospital. These findings demonstrate a hesitancy in early use of aspirin amongst general physicians and lends support for the use of stroke units.

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